Sit-in Dems on gun-control battle: We've only begun to fight

And there are no indications that Republicans will grant votes on gun-control bills in the near future in Washington D.C.

But despite the status quo, Democratic representatives from Greater Lowell and Fitchburg said the 25-hour sit-in on the House floor was an effective way to bring attention to this issue, engage the public and strengthen the push for gun safety.

Leaving Capitol Hill now through the July 4, local legislators -- all Democrats -- said they will continue the fight, and push for votes on bills strengthening background checks and barring firearms sales to people on the government's no-fly list.

"We're going to go back to our districts and continue to engage our constituents," said U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas, of Lowell, who represents her home city, Fitchburg, Lawrence and many other communities in the area.

"We're not coming back to business as usual on July 5," she added. "We can make a difference with this legislation, and we should be given the opportunity to vote."

Pressure had built on Capitol Hill following the shootings at a gay nightclub in Orlando this month that killed 49 people and injured 53 others. The assailant also died. The mass attack, the deadliest in U.S. history, followed similar tragic incidents over the past few years, including the elementary school shooting in Newtown, Conn.

The agitation for action prompted a Senate filibuster last week and led to the chaos in the House, a spectacle that captured the attention of a Washington gridlocked on guns.

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U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, who represents Leominster and many communities throughout Worcester County, said the sit-in was the "right thing to do."

"This elevated the issue of gun safety to a new level, and has helped strengthen the movement," McGovern said. "We're going to continue to fight when we come back from recess. I assure you it will not be business as usual.

"We're going to keep the pressure on to ultimately get a vote and prevail," he added. "We're in this fight for the long haul to prevent future massacres. We cannot accept all these gun deaths as the new normal. It's unacceptable."

House Republicans used their prerogatives as the majority party to muscle through, with no time for debate, a partisan bill that provides money for the Zika crisis. GOP lawmakers overruled Democrats' objections and then acted to adjourn the House into next month. Democrats cried "Shame, Shame!"

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, who represents Bedford, Billerica, Burlington, Tewksbury, Wilmington and as well as many North Shore communities, tweeted at 3:23 a.m. Thursday: "They've cut and run. We've just begun."

Moulton said there's momentum coming out of the sit-in, and that Republicans can no longer ignore gun-control legislation.

"I am working closely with Republicans and Democrats to figure out a way to move forward," Moulton said. "I think the sit-in has really brought Republicans to the table."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Sun reporter Kori Tuitt contributed to this report.

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